According to published 2024 crime reports, crime is a mixed-bag in the consolidated University and University Park neighborhoods (I-25 to the north, Colorado Boulevard to the east, Yale to the south and Downing to the west). The trends show double-digit drops year-over-year in many types of crime, including key areas like property crimes, burglaries, and car thefts. While the University area consolidated neighborhoods are among the safest in Denver, 518 reported property crimes, 75 burglaries and 122 car thefts in 2024 are far from ideal.
Denver mayor Mike Johnston is on a mission to make Denver the “safest big city in the country.” A bold claim based on current crime statistics. That is easier said than done by Johnston who is aiming to bring the police department to “full authorized strength” this year, meaning 1,639 officers. As of July 26, the department had 1,536 officers. While US News ranked Colorado #16 among the Best States, Denver was ranked an abysmal #47 on safety.
While some readers would like LetsGoDU to stick to sports, we believe these crime reports are a significant factor in the quality of life around the Univesity of Denver for residents, staff, faculty, students, and importantly to the stick to sports crowd, prospective student-athletes and their families.
Violent crime in the University of Denver neighborhood remains flat (47 vs. 46) year-over-year along with sexual assault (9 vs. 10) and domestic violence (22 vs. 19). There was one reported homicide in July with a car-jacking near One Observatory Park apartments at 2360 East Evans.
There were promising drops in property crimes (518 vs 685) and burglaries (75 vs 91) but still not satisfactory for the relatively small area. Car thefts still remain high in the area (122 vs 199) but did drop significantly in 2024 across the City of Denver.
How did the consolidated University/University Park neighborhoods fare vs. other Denver neighborhoods? Crime reports identify 78 neighborhoods in the City of Denver. The consolidated university neighborhoods rank showed the DU neighborhood as safer than most other neighborhoods with violent crime 67th, auto theft 62nd and burglary at 56th.
As for local crime, Safeway at 2150 South Downing reported 22 crimes, 25 police reports at Fifty Apartments, 2360 East Evans registered 21 crimes, One Park Place at 2360 East Evans called in 19 crimes, Walgreens at 1235 East Evans rounded out the list with 15 police calls.
In April, a driver was cited for careless driving after a crash that sent three pedestrians to the hospital, according to the Denver Police Department.
The overall crime trends are generally positive for the City of Denver and residents around the University of Denver but Denver still trails most comparably sized cities – there is still much work to be done.
Crime? Our hockey game against UNLV was criminal……and it was in doors & witnessed by thousands, yet we still don’t know how we got mugged on our home ice.
There is a difference between a crime and malfeasance. Since it happened during an EXHIBITION it was classified as a petty crime and did not make our final report.